Organic Vegetation - Wash? Eat animals living on it? - Rat Lungworm - Slugs

[miles]

I was wondering what people here do with organic vegetation such as lettuce or kale... Do you eat it unwashed, and if so do you eat any animal life that comes with it, or do you wash the vegetation in water before eating?

Also.. Would you eat raw slugs?

Here is an article about Rat Lungworm, a parasite of rats which can infect humans, and cause problems:
http://www.suite101.com/content/rat-lungworm-angiostrongylus-cantonensis-a124372

Here's a news story about a guy who developed meningitis after eating a raw slug:
http://www.news.com.au/national/man-battles-for-life-after-eating-slug/story-e6frfkvr-1225866012092
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Found here:
http://news.discovery.com/human/raw-slugs-dont-eat-them.html

Here's a news story about a guy who developed meningitis after eating
http://www.news.com.au/national/man-battles-for-life-after-eating-slug/story-e6frfkvr-1225866012092

Read this article for sure, it's good ++for RPD. I actually read this one as I was writing the topic already.

[laterade]

The Australian was most likely eating a typical diet, no reason to think what happened to him was because of parasites alone.

I cook rough veggies in soup or I do not eat them at all.
They make me uncomfortable and I feel I get nothing out of them.

Yes I would eat slugs, but not for sustenance. Just to prove a point to you. 

[TylerDurden]

I always eat my raw plant foods unwashed, except when in the company of foolish relatives who insist on pre-washing  them. And I would eat raw slugs, if available.

[Iguana]

I usually don't wash my food, except sometimes to wash the earth away from roots such as celeriac, carrots or sweet potatoes. I use seawater to wash the sand away from scallops and sometimes wash the fish in seawater too.

[kurite]

I always eat my raw plant foods unwashed, except when in the company of foolish relatives who insist on pre-washing  them. And I would eat raw slugs, if available.

Are the raw plant foods organic? If not why wouldn't you try to clean the pesticides.

@miles
If its organic I don't clean it.

[laterade]

Are the raw plant foods organic? If not why wouldn't you try to clean the pesticides.

A futile effort, chemical covered plants should be avoided.

[TylerDurden]

Are the raw plant foods organic? If not why wouldn't you try to clean the pesticides.

Actup90 is quite right. Washing them would be useless as regards getting rid of pesticides. Anyway, I often get my fruits from farmer's markets where they don't use chemical sprays even if they are not certified organic.

[laterade]

... even if they are not certified organic.

Very good point.
The price of an organic label is absurd, consequently the food is more costly most of the time.
Although in the supermarket organic is a safer route, it is nothing more than a trendy government license
Your local farmer is most likely not spraying hazardous chemicals all over his food/land.
Just ask.

[donrad]

There have been quite a few public illness outbreaks traced to raw organic veggies because people think they don't need to wash it.

The problem is that organic growers can use manure to fertilize which gets splashed up on the plants. This can spread harmful bacteria and parasites. 

[TylerDurden]

The problem is that organic growers can use manure to fertilize which gets splashed up on the plants. This can spread harmful bacteria and parasites. 

Interestingly, there was a study which showed that that an Iranian sect of vegans managed to remain healthy re maintaining vitamin B12 levels precisely because they did NOT wash the vegetables they grew. The fact is that they used manure as fertiliser for their plants, and, as a result, they got sufficient vitamin B12 that way:-

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM195903192601202

 By contrast, modern raw vegans who insist on washing their fruits/veg and not using manure for fertiliser, routinely end up with health-problems re B12 deficiency as a direct result.

For other readers, I suggest reading up articles about the Hygiene Hypothesis which debunks many of the absurd notions re the supposed "dangers" of bacteria and parasites:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

AV also has some info on  how food-poisoning claims are routinely wildly exaggerated in the media etc.:-

http://www.karlloren.com/Diabetes/p78.htm

AV points out the obvious that it is the environment and not the pathogen which is at issue.

[laterade]

I ate some 6 month old slimy high meat last week, felt great and didn't die
do you think I "got lucky", donrad?

[donrad]

It is a survival adaptation for harmful bacteria and parasites to keep the host alive. If they killed the hosts off there would eventually be no hosts left.

Not dying does not mean not being infected. Everyone is infected to some degree. It is just a matter of more or less.

[Techydude]

Question for those who don't wash their veggies: I'm interested on the b12 benefit of it, but what about the sand , dirt and grit usually on the veg, doesn't that bother you or your teeth or chewing and swallowing?


Also the article mentioned the parasites in crabs/shellfish and I eat them too, should I be worried?

[TylerDurden]

I wash the dirt off, though the Eskimoes didn't bother.

And, yes, eat the whole crab etc.

[laterade]

Also the article mentioned the parasites in crabs/shellfish and I eat them too, should I be worried?

I eat them when I find them.

And, yes, eat the whole crab etc.

The shell too 

...

Then what is the problem with being "infected"?

[miles]

Then what is the problem with being "infected"?

I think because one can become bogged down by parasites without being killed by them, directly..

I eat them when I find them.

Eat what from what when you find what?

[laterade]

I think because one can become bogged down by parasites without being killed by them, directly..

Well when(or if) it happens I will post, but for now the only things that bog me down are:
Too much cooked food
Too much fruit

Fresh meat, including high meat, has done nothing but pleased me.

Eat what from what when you find what?

I have found crab-like parasites in wild oysters. Ate each one.

[miles]

I have found crab-like parasites in wild oysters. Ate each one.

Oh right. That doesn't seem like the sort of thing that would affect a Human anyway though, just like any other animal. It'd be the parasites within the crab parasites that'd get you.

[Techydude]

Oh right. That doesn't seem like the sort of thing that would affect a Human anyway though, just like any other animal. It'd be the parasites within the crab parasites that'd get you.

You mean if he ate the tiny crab like parasites there are parasites within them? lol that's like a cool paradox
I'm gonna start treating parasites like pro-biotics.

[laterade]

Oh right. That doesn't seem like the sort of thing that would affect a Human anyway though, just like any other animal. It'd be the parasites within the crab parasites that'd get you.

Or even the parasites within the parasites of the parasitic crab! Now I'm terrified.
I'm going to go stick my head between my legs and kiss my butt cheeks goodbye.